Service and emotional support animals

Service animals and emotional support animals accompanying passengers with disabilities or special needs are accepted in the airplane cabin at no additional charge.

Service animals

Animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a physical disability.

Emotional support animals

Animals that:

Provide companionship and relieve loneliness.

Provide emotional support and help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias.

The emotional support animal’s presence is needed for the mental health of the animal’s owner.

Conditions

Documentation

Appropriate documentation (such as permission to enter the destination country and proof of vaccination) is required for all service animals and emotional support animals.

International flights

When traveling internationally, passengers must show a certificate of health for their animal, issued by an appropriate authority. In addition, passengers must show all documentation necessary for their animal to enter the destination country.

For flights from Venezuela, animals must have an International Training Certificate. Passengers traveling with a seeing eye dog must have a Disability Certificate issued by Venezuela’s National Council for Persons with Disabilities (CONAPDIS).

Domestic flights

For domestic flights within Colombia, passengers only need to show current proof of vaccination for their animal.

For domestic flights within Panama, passengers must show proof of vaccination and a certificate of good health.It is important that service animals are vaccinated against rabies. Passengers must have any permits that will be required upon arrival in the destination city. Such permits must include an official logo or other identifying mark. Traveling with a muzzle is recommended.

Size and number

To comply with safety regulations, the animal’s size must not exceed the space at the passenger’s seat. The animal must fit in the passenger’s lap, or in the space in front of the passenger’s feet or underneath the seat. The animal may not block the aisle.

Passengers are permitted to travel with multiple service animals, as long as they are able to show that their condition requires it. Passengers are responsible for ensuring that there is enough space to accommodate multiple service animals without blocking the aisle.

Exit row seating is prohibited.

Although it is not required, passengers may purchase additional seats in order to have additional floor space to accommodate the animal(s).

Behavior

Animals may not be permitted to travel if they display disruptive behavior, such as:

Growling

Jumping on passengers

Defecating in the gate area or on board the airplane

Excessive barking, except to signal that the animal’s owner is in need or in danger